WESTBROOK — Greely High came into this North Southwestern swimming and diving championships as the favorite.

But the Rangers finished third in the opening event, the 200-yard medley relay. That was no shock to Greely Coach Rob Hale.

“I was pleased with third,” said Hale. Hale didn’t load up that relay team. He didn’t have to.

Greely took off from the second event and cruised to victory Saturday at Davan Pool.

The Rangers totaled 286 points. Cheverus was second with 224. Cape Elizabeth, winner of this meet the previous three years, placed third (195).

Cheverus sophomore Abby Longstaff was named the performer of the meet after wins in the 200 medley relay, the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

Falmouth junior Charlotte Janelle, the two-time defending Southwesterns and state Class A diving champion, broke the Southwesterns diving record with 405.15 points.

Greely won for the first time since 2011. Hale did not see this coming last November.

“I didn’t think we were very deep,” Hale said. “Around Christmas time the switch went on and, wow, we were deeper than I thought. That’s why we won this meet. We had three kids scoring in just about every event.”

And that has Haley thinking about next week and the Class B state championships.

“I now think we can scare MDI (Mt. Desert Island),” Hale said. “They’re still the favorite but they have to take notice.”

Cheverus is the defending girls’ Class A state champion, and Coach Kevin Haley said this year’s group is a “top-five team.”

Maybe top three, at least. Bangor and Brunswick could be better but the Stags showed they are not going away.

Cheverus won the opening event with the foursome of Longstaff, Margaret Meserve, Gabrielle Cholish and Hattie Train, winning the medley relay in 1:56.99.

But Greely showed its might in the next event, the 200 freestyle, finishing 1-2-3 with Katie Bacall winning (2:06.22), Lauren Williams (2:07.47) and Camilla Civiello (2:08.61).

Next, Greely’s Hwanhee Park got edged out in the 200 individual medley, finishing second (2:13.60) to McAuley’s Ana Neff-Jendrasko (2:13.28). But Park came back later to win the 100 butterfly (59.53).

Greely also won the 200 free relay in 1:43.49, led by Williams, Cat Maker, Civiello and Park.

Hale mentioned Williams, Maker and Lily Black (third in the 100 free) as swimmers who are at “a whole different level than I thought they would be.”

Black swam on the 400 free relay second-place team with Meagan Currie, Bacall and Madison Rawnsley.

Janelle was the heavy diving favorite. She has scored higher this season but was still surprised to get the meet record.

“On Wednesday (for the preliminary dives), I didn’t do so well but I really liked my last three dives,” Janelle said. “It helps in the long run having a higher (degree of difficulty).”

Longstaff won in times of 55.07 (free) and 58.88 (back).

“Those were all best times for me, even the 50 back in the medley relay (27.40), so I’m pleased,” Longstaff said.

Like Hale, Haley called Saturday a complete team performance. He singled out divers Courtney Kane (second) and Nina Greenwood (third) for getting the Stags 25 points. But Haley didn’t relax until the 400 free relay team of Sophia Kruse, Kate Corwin, Lauren Girard and Danielle Chambers finished fourth, clinching the runners-up trophy.

Among the other champions were North Yarmouth Academy’s Sonia Lin in the 50 free, Falmouth’s Piper Alexander in the 500 free, Cape Elizabeth’s Sadie Stiles in the 100 breaststroke, and the Deering 400 freestyle relay team of Mary Cala, Sofie deOliveira, Wyeth Spike and Kate Pontius.

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